What's New

The Midwest continues to grow as a meetings destination, with new hotels, resorts, and convention centers adding to an already diverse product offering. In particular, there's a boom in new and expanded convention centers.

Chicago is looking forward to the completion of the McCormick Place West Building in 2007 — eight months earlier than originally projected. It will offer 470,000 square feet of exhibit space and 250,000 square feet of meeting room space. Next door, in Schaumburg, Ill., the Schaumburg Convention Center, scheduled for completion this July, will include a 100,000-square-foot exhibit hall, a 28,000-square-foot ballroom, 20,000 square feet of meeting space, and, in phase two, a 2,400-seat theater.

Cincinnati's Cinergy Center remained open during its $160 million renovation, which was completed in May. The 750,000-square-foot center features nearly 200,000 square feet of exhibition space and more than 100,000 square feet of meeting space — including a 40,000-square-foot ballroom. Meanwhile, the Kansas City Convention Center will complete a $74 million, 135,000-square-foot expansion and renovation by this fall. The expansion will add a 40,000-square-foot ballroom and 35,000 square feet of pre-function space.

Traveling to the Midwest has never been easier. Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport completed a runway expansion in fall 2005, and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is finishing its $1.6 billion expansion. In Michigan, Lansing's Capital City Airport now has direct flights to Atlanta, Las Vegas, and Orlando, while Traverse City features seasonal nonstop flights to New York, Cincinnati and Dallas/Fort Worth.

Facility Update

Illinois

• The 246-room Four Points by Sheraton Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile opened June 2005.

• The 362-room all-suite Renaissance Chicago O'Hare Hotel opened in 2005.

• The 398-room Crowne Plaza Hotel Chicago-Metro opened July 2005 near the Sears Tower.

• Adjacent to the Magnificent Mile, the 415-room Sofitel Chicago Water Tower's meeting space includes a ballroom and 10 meeting rooms for up to 330 people.

• The 300-room Sofitel Chicago O'Hare is connected to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. The hotel's conference center features 15 meeting rooms (for up to 400 people), five function rooms, and a grand ballroom for up to 1,000. Stay includes complimentary shuttles to O'Hare International Airport.

Indiana

• The 243-room Conrad Hotel Indianapolis opened in April with more than 10,000 square feet of meeting space connected to the Indiana Convention Center.

• Lucas Oil Products has won the naming rights for the new Indiana stadium under construction in downtown Indianapolis. When completed in fall 2008, Lucas Oil Stadium will replace the RCA Dome.

Michigan

• The 118-room Inn at St. John's opened earlier this year in Plymouth, a Detroit suburb, with 25 meeting rooms.

• Construction is under way on a 340-room JW Marriott, connected by skywalk to DeVos Place convention center in Grand Rapids. Completion is slated for 2007.

Minnesota

• A 214-room Westin hotel is scheduled to open in Minneapolis in 2007.

• The 53-room Chambers Hotel Minneapolis will open this summer.

• A 136-room Ivy Hotel + Residences near the Minneapolis Convention Center is scheduled to open in spring 2007.

• InterContinental Hotels Group opened the 479-room, 21-story Crowne Plaza St. Paul Riverfront in March. The hotel has 55,000 square feet of meeting space.

• The Dorsey-Ewald Conference Center opened in September 2005 in St. Paul.

Missouri

• A 200-room Four Seasons hotel and spa is scheduled to open in 2007 in St. Louis.

• Earlier this year after a $15 million renovation, the 672-room St. Louis Marriott Downtown became the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark.

• The 195-room Hilton St. Louis Down-town opened in the 112-year-old Merchants-Laclede bank building in 2005 with 5,000 square feet of meeting space.

Ohio

• The 256-room Sheraton Cincinnati North Hotel opened in fall 2005 across from the Sharonville Convention Center with more than 18,000 square feet of meeting space, including a ballroom.

• The 295-room Cleveland Marriott East was completed in fall 2005. It has nearly 15,000 square feet of meeting space.

Ask the CVB

Illinois

Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau
(312) 567-8500
www.choosechicago.com
Total Hotel Tax: 14.9%

Rosemont Convention Bureau
(847) 823-2100; www.rosemont.com
Total Hotel Tax: 12.5%

Indiana

Indianapolis CVA
(317) 639-4282; www.indy.org
Total Hotel Tax: 15%

Michigan

Detroit Metro CVB
(888) CALL-DTW; www.visitdetroit.com
Total Hotel Tax: 13% to 15%

Grand Rapids/Kent County CVB
(800) 678-9859; www.meetgrandrapids.org
Total Hotel Tax: 13%

Minnesota

Greater Minneapolis CVA
(800) 445-7412
www.minneapolismeetings.com
Total Hotel Tax: 13%

Saint Paul CVB
(800) 627-6101; www.visitsaintpaul.com
Total Hotel Tax: 13%

Missouri

St. Louis Conv. & Visitors Commission
(800) 597-8409; www.explorestlouis.com
Total Hotel Tax: 14.8%

Ohio

Greater Cincinnati CVB
(800) 543-2613; www.cincymeetings.com
Total Hotel Tax: 17%

CVB of Greater Cleveland
(800) 321-1001; www.travelcleveland.com
Total Hotel Tax: 15.5%

Phantom Planner

• You can park downtown in Cincinnati for $1 — if you know where to look. The $1 rate is good for designated garages when you park after 5 p.m. on weekdays and weekends. Visit www.gototown.com for locations.

• Flying into Detroit? Before you board your plane, visit Checker Cab (www.checkersedan.com) or Metro Cars (www.metrocars.net) to arrange transportation from the airport in advance.

• In Indianapolis, visitors can explore downtown free via IndyGo's (public transportation) Blue Line Circulator. The route goes from White River State Park to the City Market. Attractions include the Indiana Convention Center & RCA Dome, Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, and Circle Centre mall.

• When driving into the Chicago area from the east, allow extra time. Work is still under way on the massive interstate reconstruction project at the Illinois/Indiana state line on I-80/94.

• If you're staying in greater Chicago and using the Metra commuter line, arrange transportation to and from your suburban train station. Check with your hotel, which may offer a complimentary shuttle. Otherwise, you'll likely have to rely on taxi service.

Feel the Need for Speed?

Send your employees on a ride with a professional Indy Racing League driver around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway track. They'll ride in a real Indy car with a second seat carved behind the driver — and experience the same speeds and g-forces. Visit www.sindenracing.com for more information.